Racial slur on sofa label stuns family

Hammock Parties · 04-11-2007, 01:51 AM

http://www.thestar.com/article/200265

When the new chocolate-coloured sofa set was delivered to her Brampton home, Doris Moore was stunned to see packing labels describing the shade as "******-brown."

She and husband Douglas purchased a sofa, loveseat and chair in dark brown leather last week from Vanaik Furniture and Mattress store on Dundas St. E.

Moore, 30, who describes herself as an African-American born and raised in New York, said it was her 7-year-old daughter who pointed out the label just after delivery men from the Mississauga furniture store left.

"She's very curious and she started reading the labels," Moore explained. "She said, `Mommy, what is nig ... ger brown?' I went over and just couldn't believe my eyes."

She said yesterday each piece had a similar label affixed to the woven protective covering wrapped around the furniture.

"In this day and age, that's totally unacceptable," Moore said.

Douglas explained the origins of the word to daughter Olivia, telling how it was a bad name that blacks were called during the days of slavery in the United States.

"It was tough, because she really didn't understand," Moore said. "She'd never heard that word before and didn't really understand the concept of it."

Moore, who has a younger son and daughter, said she's heard the word used many times, although it has never been directed in anger at her.

"But it's a very, very bad word that makes you feel degraded, like you're a nobody," she said.

Moore said she called the furniture store the following day and three other times since, and feels discouraged that no one has returned her calls.

When interviewed yesterday by the Star, Romesh Kumar, Vanaik's assistant manager, passed the buck to his supplier, Cosmos Furniture in Scarborough.

"Why should I take the blame?" he said. "I'm a trader, I don't manufacture. I sell from 20 companies, maybe 50 companies. How can I take care of all of them?"

He said that he would check similar stock and make sure other labels were removed.

"That's terrible, that's a racial ... something?" Kumar said. "This is entirely wrong, but it's not my fault. It's my job to sell good product to people."

He said the best he could do is to give Moore the telephone number of his supplier, so she could take it up with him.

The owner of Cosmos Furniture, Paul Kumar, no relation to Romesh, said he was upset to learn packing labels on products he sold carried a racial epithet.

"I import my products from overseas," he said. "I've never noticed anything like that. This is something new to me."

He passed the blame to a Chinese company, but apologized for the labels. He said he would contact the furniture maker in Guangzhou and demand they remove all similar labels.

Moore said she's not sure she wants the sofa set in her home.

"Every time I sit on it, I'll think of that," she said.

**BigMeatballDave** · 04-11-2007, 01:52 AM

How did you miss the 1st time this was posted?

Hammock Parties · 04-11-2007, 01:52 AM

DAMMIT!

**BigMeatballDave** · 04-11-2007, 01:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

DAMMIT!

http://www.chiefsplanet.com/BB/showthread.php?t=160940

Sorry, dude...

Mecca · 04-11-2007, 01:59 AM

I won the race.

SPchief · 04-11-2007, 02:03 AM

REPOST

ILChief · 04-11-2007, 05:20 AM

The fact that both guys' names are Kumar is interesting. A guy I work with is from India and he went on a trip back to India a couple of months ago and brought me back a pack of Indian Chili powder from a market in India and one of the ingredients listed on the bag is "Ni**ger Corriander". Apparently the word has a different meaning in India.

Simplex3 · 04-11-2007, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILChief

The fact that both guys' names are Kumar is interesting. A guy I work with is from India and he went on a trip back to India a couple of months ago and brought me back a pack of Indian Chili powder from a market in India and one of the ingredients listed on the bag is "Ni**ger Corriander". Apparently the word has a different meaning in India.

W.T.F.? You mean to tell me the entire world's vocabulary doesn't revolve around the misuse of one word over 150 years ago!!!???!

**penguinz** · 04-11-2007, 06:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoChiefs

Moore, 30, who describes herself as an African-American born and raised in New York

This explains the over reaction. I am going to pissed off the next time I hear someone say I am white. I am Irish-American.

Al Bundy · 04-11-2007, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penguinz

This explains the over reaction. I am going to pissed off the next time I hear someone say I am white. I am Irish-American.

So am I.. I am Native American-American.

thehead · 04-11-2007, 06:22 AM

Over reaction this N word crap is about to piss me off. Lets boycott all Chris Rock ,Eddie Murphy,Red Fox material .We as white america have become nothing but Apologist for the black culture,

Simplex3 · 04-11-2007, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by penguinz

This explains the over reaction. I am going to pissed off the next time I hear someone say I am white. I am Irish-American.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that finds it laughable that so few "African Americans" have ever even SEEN Africa, much less are from there.

Just because 4 generations ago my ancestors lived in Wales doesn't give me some kind of connection to the country.

rad · 04-11-2007, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplex3

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one that finds it laughable that so few "African Americans" have ever even SEEN Africa, much less are from there.

Just because 4 generations ago my ancestors lived in Wales doesn't give me some kind of connection to the country.

****ing Limey.

**Skip Towne** · 04-11-2007, 06:40 AM

REPOST

**Bugeater** · 04-11-2007, 06:41 AM

Both the Kumars should serve two-week suspensions.

04-11-2007, 01:51 AM
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4710478	Racial slur on sofa label stuns family http://www.thestar.com/article/200265 When the new chocolate-coloured sofa set was delivered to her Brampton home, Doris Moore was stunned to see packing labels describing the shade as "******-brown." She and husband Douglas purchased a sofa, loveseat and chair in dark brown leather last week from Vanaik Furniture and Mattress store on Dundas St. E. Moore, 30, who describes herself as an African-American born and raised in New York, said it was her 7-year-old daughter who pointed out the label just after delivery men from the Mississauga furniture store left. "She's very curious and she started reading the labels," Moore explained. "She said, `Mommy, what is nig ... ger brown?' I went over and just couldn't believe my eyes." She said yesterday each piece had a similar label affixed to the woven protective covering wrapped around the furniture. "In this day and age, that's totally unacceptable," Moore said. Douglas explained the origins of the word to daughter Olivia, telling how it was a bad name that blacks were called during the days of slavery in the United States. "It was tough, because she really didn't understand," Moore said. "She'd never heard that word before and didn't really understand the concept of it." Moore, who has a younger son and daughter, said she's heard the word used many times, although it has never been directed in anger at her. "But it's a very, very bad word that makes you feel degraded, like you're a nobody," she said. Moore said she called the furniture store the following day and three other times since, and feels discouraged that no one has returned her calls. When interviewed yesterday by the Star, Romesh Kumar, Vanaik's assistant manager, passed the buck to his supplier, Cosmos Furniture in Scarborough. "Why should I take the blame?" he said. "I'm a trader, I don't manufacture. I sell from 20 companies, maybe 50 companies. How can I take care of all of them?" He said that he would check similar stock and make sure other labels were removed. "That's terrible, that's a racial ... something?" Kumar said. "This is entirely wrong, but it's not my fault. It's my job to sell good product to people." He said the best he could do is to give Moore the telephone number of his supplier, so she could take it up with him. The owner of Cosmos Furniture, Paul Kumar, no relation to Romesh, said he was upset to learn packing labels on products he sold carried a racial epithet. "I import my products from overseas," he said. "I've never noticed anything like that. This is something new to me." He passed the blame to a Chinese company, but apologized for the labels. He said he would contact the furniture maker in Guangzhou and demand they remove all similar labels. Moore said she's not sure she wants the sofa set in her home. "Every time I sit on it, I'll think of that," she said.
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04-11-2007, 01:52 AM	#2
BigMeatballDave GBM 8-12-15 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Dayton, Oh. Casino cash: $10052154	How did you miss the 1st time this was posted?
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04-11-2007, 01:52 AM	#3
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4710478	DAMMIT! __________________ Chiefs game films
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04-11-2007, 01:59 AM	#5
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $2617050	I won the race.
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04-11-2007, 02:03 AM	#6
SPchief In Search of a Life Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $1842905	REPOST __________________ http://give.somo.org/site/TR/Plunge/...nal&fr_id=1244 ^^^^^^^^^^ Click here to help with a special cause. Please help me out
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04-11-2007, 05:20 AM	#7
ILChief MVP Join Date: Jan 2001 Casino cash: $7914831	The fact that both guys' names are Kumar is interesting. A guy I work with is from India and he went on a trip back to India a couple of months ago and brought me back a pack of Indian Chili powder from a market in India and one of the ingredients listed on the bag is "Ni**ger Corriander". Apparently the word has a different meaning in India.
Posts: 11,476

04-11-2007, 06:22 AM	#11
thehead still a fu#king KC fan Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Ashdown AR Casino cash: $10004900	Over reaction this N word crap is about to piss me off. Lets boycott all Chris Rock ,Eddie Murphy,Red Fox material .We as white america have become nothing but Apologist for the black culture, __________________ The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering
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04-11-2007, 06:40 AM	#14
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	REPOST
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04-11-2007, 06:41 AM	#15
Bugeater The Maintenance Guy Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Renovated Bugeater Estate Casino cash: $6252680	Both the Kumars should serve two-week suspensions.
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